Dictating machine



July 31, 1934. M. J. JOHNSON' ET AL DI CTATING MACHINE Original Filed March 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 moles fa/1mm NQS. S

2 sheets-'sheet 2 INVENTO July 3l, 1934. M. J. JUHNSON Er A1.

DICTA'IING MACHINE Original Filed March l5, 1929 lm'rlfsn'rv ofi-FICE 1,968,558 pro'rAfrINc Mnonmn Manfred J. Johnson and Victor L. lFrykmam Bridgeport, fConn., assignors gto Dictaphone Corporation, New Xork, N. Y., `a corporation of New York Application March V, 1929, Serial "No, 347,211

Renewed December 15, 1932 21 claims. (0 1. 274-17) A'This invention relates generally to dictating machines, and more particularly to a -warning device for a dictating machine for indicating to the operator the operating condition of the machine under certain circumstances.

It is an object of `this invention to provide mean-s vfor warning the operator when the mandrei starting `control is actuated with the stylus or sound-box `control means in certain positions.

ther objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Frequently it happens that after the operator of a dictating machine has moved the stylus control to the neutral or to the reproducing position, for example prior to placing a record-tablet on the mandrel or to listening to matter recorded on a record-tablet, the operator will actuate the starting mechanism and begin to dictate without noticing that the machine is not in condi tion for recording speech. The operator may continue to dictate for some time before becoming aware of the fact that the machine is not recording, and then will be under the necessity of repeating the dictated matter, after having shifted the stylus control to the recording position. i

According to this invention means are provided for giving a warning to the operator when the mandrel starting means is actuated with thel stylus control in other than the recording posi* tion. Preferably, the warning is given while the mandrel starting means is being actuated, and before `the mandrel begins to rotate, and prefer ably the warning ceases before mandrel rotation begins, so that in case the operator desires to listen to recorded matter there will be no inter ruption or interference by the warning means.

For a Yfurther disclosure of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and to the accompanying drawings showing one embodiment of the invention selected merely for purposes of illustration, and in which:

Fig. 1 is pa view, partly in elevation and partly in section, from the right hand end of a dictating machine;

Fig. 2 is a rear `elevation of `a portion of Vthe machine shown in Fig. 1;

` Fig. 3 is a View corresponding to Fig. 1, showing the mechanism in diiferent operating condi- 1 tion, and showing certain features of the construction in more detail; and i o Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the machine in the operating condition shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, a base plate 5 has,

' near the left hand end of the machine, `an up.

wardly projecting housing 6 and standard 9. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the housing 6 and standard 9 are` provided with suitable bearings l(not shown) for rotatably supporting `one end of a mandrel shaft u10. The free endof the mandrel shaft l0 carries a mandrel 7, upon which a record-tablet 8 may be slidably positioned.

Referring .to Fig. 4, `slidably mounted upon the mandrel .shaft 10 within the housing .6 is `a collar 1-1, which has an outer annular groove 12. The collar 11 lis connected to rotate with the shaft 10 by .means of a pin or screw 13 set in the collar and extending `through a slot in the .shaft 10.

VThe pin 13also passes through .an opening Vin one end of `a rod 14 which is slidably mounted in an axial bore inthe supportedend of the shaft 10. This pin connection betweenthe rsleeve 11 .and lthe rod 14 is such that the sleeve .and the rod will rotate with the shaft 10, but may slide relative thereto within Jthe limits of .the length of the slot through `which `the pin 13 passes.

The other end of the rod 14 extends outwardly beyond the `end of the `shaft 10, through the standard 9, and has a clutch disc l5 on its .outer end." The Vclutch disc 15 is provided on its inner face with a tooth which is adapted, when the rod and disc are moved to the left, to .engage one of a plurality of -clutch `teeth onv the hub 16 of ya .pulley wheel 17. The pulley wheel 17 is rotatably supported in suitable bearings in the standardV 9, and willbe connected by a belt, (not showin) withany suitable driving means, `for 4example an .electric motor-connected to any suitable source of power in a well known manner :by means .of a switch which maybe opened .by removing a mouthpiece from a movable support and closed when said mouthpiece is returned `to .its support. Such' switch andV control mecahnism .may :be `of the type disclosed in lPatent No. 1,188,728.

Withthe sleeve 11 and the -rod 14 in the positions shown in Fig. 4, the .mandrel 'I is disconnectedvfrom the driving means. When the sleeve 11 is moved yto the left, thereby causing the clutch disc 15 to engage the pulley hub y16, the mandrel maybe driven `by the driving means.

y"iT- ?.eferringto Figs. 3 ande, the Aannular .groove 12 'inl -the sleeve `11 is slidably engaged at .substan-tially diametrically opposite points by twol pins forming a part -of a clutchshifting yoke 18. The clutchA shifting yoke 18 is fastened to the verticalarm of an angular rlever 19, .which is piv otally mounted on an inner .wall of the `housing 6. The horizontal `arm of-thelever 19 has at its outer end a turned over shelf-like portion 19. Preferably, resilient means, ,(not shown) such as a spring is connected Abetween the lever 19 and-.the housing l6 or the Vbase plate 5, normally to maintain the sleeve 11 in the position shown in Fig. 4, with the clutch members disengaged.

As may best be seen in Fig. ,3, the upper surface ofthe shelf-,like portionr19 ofthe lever --19 is engaged by the horizontal arm of asecond angularflever 20, which ispivotally mounted on an inner wall of the `housing 6. `The vertically extending -arm of the lever 20`engages at 4its upper end CII with the terminal of a Bowden wire mechanism in such a manner that actuation of the Bowden wire will turn the lever about its pivot to depress the horizontal arm of the lever 19, thereby moving the sleeve 11 and rod 14 to the left, and causing.Y

the mandrel clutch members to engage.

Extending longitudinally of the machine, and supported at their ends by the standard 9 and a similar standard, (not shown) near the other end of the base plate, are the upper and lower carriage supporting and guiding members 21 and 22. Slidably mounted upon the members 21 and 22 is a sound-box carriage 23.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the upper member 21 preferably is in the form of a tube having a longitudinal opening along its under side. Within the member 21 is a feed screw 24, which is connected in any suitable manner, (not shown) with the mandrel shaft 10, so as to rotate when the mandrel rotates. The feed screw 24 may be engaged by a feed nut 25 on the carriage 23. When the feed nut is in engagement with the feed screw, and the feed screw is rotating, the carriage 23 will be moved along the machine. For a further disclosure of this construction, which forms no part of the present invention, reference may be had to United States Letters Patent of T. H. Macdonald, No. 1,100,024, June 16, 1914.

Still referring to Figs. 1 and 3, surrounding the carriage guiding member 21 is a collar 26 having an upwardly projecting, manually operable, stylus control lever 27. The lower edge of the collar 26 is connected by means of a pin 28 to one end of a forwardly extending link 29. The for- .r ward end of the link 29 has a hook and slot connection 30 with a tube 31 slidably mounted in and forming part of a sound-box casing 32 which is mounted on the front portion of the carriage 23;

As is best shown in Fig. 1, a forwardly extending, reduced tubular portion of the sound-box casing is connected by means of an elbow 33 and a flexible tube 34 to a handle 35 which carries a mouthpiece 36. The handle 35 is provided with a control button 37 connected with one end of a Bowden wire 33. The Bowden wire preferably passes through the flexible tube 34, and at its distant end is connected to the housing 6. The arrangement is such that depression of the button 37 actuates the Bowden wire, so as to cause the plunger portion of the wire at the end connected to the housing 6 to turn the lever 20 and thereby cause engagement of the mandrel clutch members in the manner hereinbefore described.

Thus it is seen that the button 37 through the Bowden wire, acts as a stop-and-start control for the mandrel. For a further disclosure of the Bowden wire stop-and-start control, reference may be had to United States Letters Patent of C. E. Woods, No. 1,203,088, October 31, 1916.

Referring to Fig. 3, telescopically mounted within the forwardly extending reduced tubular portion of the sound-box casing 32 is one end of a tapered tubular member 39 which is connected with the tube 31 so as to be moved therewith. The inner end of the tubular member 39 has a ball and socket connection with one end of a sound-box tube 40, which carries at its other end a sound-box 41. The tubular members 40 and 39, the elbow 33, the tube 34, and the handle 35 provide for the transmission of sound between the sound-box 41 and the mouthpiece 36. The sound-box 41 has a diaphragm carrying a recording stylus 42 and a reproducing stylus 43.

With the control lever 27 in the forward or recording position, shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the link 29 has caused the tubes 31, 39 and 40 to be moved to the rear to bring the recording stylus 42 into engagement with the record-tablet 8. 'When the control lever is in the rear or reproducing position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the tubes 31 and 40 are in a forward position, which brings the reproducing stylus into engagement with the record-tablet 8. When the control lever is in the intermediate or neutral position, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3, both stylii will be lifted from the record surface by the engagement of a lug 44 on the lower side of the sound-box tube 40 with a finger 45 adjustably fastened on the casing 32.

For further details of the sound-box construction and control means reference may be had to Macdonald Patent No. 1,100,024, previously referred to, and to United States patents to Scully, No. 1,093,732, April 21, 1914, and Bodine et al. No. 1,606,744, November 16, 1926.

In the arrangement thus far described the mandrel stop-and-start control means may be actuated irrespective of the operating condition of the machine, .According to this invention, means are provided, associated with the mandrel stop-and-start control, for warning the operator when the control is actuated to start the mandrel with the stylus control in other than recording position.

Where the stop-and-start control includes a Bowden. wire, as in the illustrated embodiment, means conveniently may be associated with the Bowden wire and the stylus control, so that actuation of the Bowden wire when the stylus control is in other than recording position is effective to warn the operator that the dictating machine is not in condition for recording speech. This warning may comprise either a visual indication, a sound indication, or both. In the embodiment disclosed herein, means are provided for causing a striker to impinge once on the same bell which is used to warn of the approach cf the carriage toward the end of a record-tablet, said means being rendered ineffective to actuate the striker when the stylus control is in recording position.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, slidably mounted on the back side of the downwardly extending part of the carriage 23 is a plate 50. The plate 50 is free to move in a vertical plane, and is held in position by two screws extending through slots in the plate and engaging openings in the carriage. Connected to the plate is one end of a tension spring 51, the other end of the spring being connected to a pin set in the carriage 23. 'I'he spring 51 normally tends to move the plate 50 upwardly.

The upper end of the plate 50 has two outwardly turned ears which support a roller 52. As may better be seen in Figs. l and 3, under the tension of the spring 51, the roller 52 and the plate 50 are pressed upwardly against the lower rear edge of the collar 26, which carries the upwardly projecting stylus control lever 27. The collar 26 has on its lower rear edge a v,

lug or cam 53. When the stylus control lever 27 is in the forward or recording position, as Shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the lug 53 is turned substantially out of engagement with the roller 52,

and the plate 50 is moved upwardly by the spring 1 51 until the plate 50 occupies its uppermost position.

However, when the stylus control lever 26 is moved backwardly to the neutral or to the reproducing position, (see Fig. 1) the collar 26 is I turned,vcausing the lugv53 toengage the roller 52` anddepress thelroller and `plate 50. against the tension of the spring l.`

As may best beA seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the plate is provided intermediateits ends with an out-- wardly turned vear 54. when the plate 50 is in the raised position, shown in` Figs. 3 ande, to engage the lower side of and lift a rodv 55. The rod is loosely mounted at its endsin two `forwardly and downwardly inclined slotslin two outwardly turned ears Yoi a plate 56 secured to the back side of the carriage 23. When the plate 50 is in the lowered position shown in Figs. l` and 2 the ear 54 is below the bottoms of the inclined slots, and the rod 55 drops to the bottoms or" the slots due to gravity. yielding means could be connected to the rod'55 normally tending to draw the rod downwardly.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4,. secured to the right hand. end of the rod 55 is a downwardly depending bell striker 57. The striker 'lnormally is drawn toward the .back of the machine.` i. e. toward the reader in Figs. 2 and 4, by means suoli as the spiral tension spring 53, which is secured at its ends to the striker and to the carriage. The

spring normally tends to turn the rod 55 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. l and 3. This turning movement of the rod 55 may be limited by the engagement of` thestriker 57` with a bell 59 mounted on the carriage. Secured to the left hand end of the rod 55 isv a small dovvn=n wardly depending Cain lever `(i0.

Itwill be .seen from the foregoing desc-iption that if the rod 55 is turned slightly in a cloc wise direction, as viewed in Figs. l and 3, againstr the tension ofthe spring 58, and is then released, the spring 58 will draw the striker tothe rear,

causing it to impinge on the bell 59..

r`Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, the plate 55 which supports the rod 55 has at its left edge an in-V wardly turned ledge to which is secured a recessed block 6l. As may best be seen in Figs. l and 3, the Bowden wire 38 passes through the block 6l. The outer conduitmember ci the Bowden wire is broken, and the two ends of the outer conduit member are secured in the walls of the block 6l. where the wire enters. and leaves the block.l The interior wire member 62 oi the Bowden wire passes through the recess in the e block 61, and has secured thereto, near the rear wall of the recess, a collar 64. Pivotally mounted inthe recess and lying along side the interior member 62 between the Vcollar 64 and the forward wall of the recess is a crank 65. .The crank is adapted to be turned in a counter-clockwise direction by the collar 6e when theinner mein-- ber of the Bowden wire is' moved or drawn forward. Surrounding the interior member 62 within the block recess and .between the crank 65 i, and t -e forward wall of the recess is a spiral spring 63 normally tending toV turn the crank in a clockwise direction.

By referring to' Fig. 1 it will be seen that when the stylus control lever is in either reproducing ,i or neutral position, the rod 55 is in its lowerniost position. Under these conditions, actuation ci the Bowdenwire control 37 in the well known manner, thereby'drawing the interior member through the block 61 and turning the crank 65 in a counter-clockwise direction, will cause the crank 55 to trip the cam lever 60, turning and` subsequently releasing the rod 55, Vand.causingthe striker 5 7 to irnpinge on the bell 59 in the manner hereinbeiore described.- Thus it is seen that i actuation or the control to start the mandrel will The ear 54 is adapted,-

If desired,

cause `a warning signal to be given when the. stylus control is in neutral or reproducing position.

On the other hand, when the stylus control is in recordingposition, as shown in Fig. 3, the rod 55 has been lifted by the plate 59 and spring 5l, so.

operator is listening to matter already recorded the signal will in no manner interfere with this operation.

. On the lowermost portion of the carriage frame is pivotally mounteda second bell striker 66 which normally is held in the position shown in the drawings by means of a spiral tension spring 67. The striker 66 has a downwardly depending arm, the lower end of which is adapted, when the carriage approaches the end of a record-tablet,`

to engage a .stop 68, (Fig. 2) mounted on the base plate 5. As the carriage continues to move, the stop 58 causes the striker 66 tol be turned and tripped, whereuponv the spring 67 causes the striker to impinge on the bell 59, thereby giving a warning that thecarriage is near the end of the.'

record-tablet.

It will be seen that the invention provides a simple mechanism foraccomplishing the stated objects. Y

-Thc invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scopeY of the appended claims. l

We claim:

1. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, control means for controlling the operation of said record support, a stylus, control means for moving said stylus into. and out of` record-engaging position, and signal means for giving a positive warning when said nrst control means is actuated with the second control means in a given position.

2. The combination in a'dictating machine of a record support, control means for controlling the operation or said record support, a stylus, control means for moving said tsylus into and out of recordeengaging position, and signal means for giving a positive warning when said first con-4 trol means is actuated with the stylus out of record-engaging position.

3. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, a stylus control having recording, neutral and reproducing positions, control` means for controlling the rotation of said record support, and signal means for givinga positive warning upon actuation of said control means whensaid stylus control is in a givenposition.

4. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, a stylus control. having recording, neutral and reproducing positions, control meansA for controlling the rotation of said record support,V

andA signal means for giving a positive warning upon actuation of said control means when said stylus control is in other than recording position.v i

5. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, astylus control having record ing, `neutral and reproducing positions, control meansyforcontrolling `the rotation or said recordsupport, and signal means for giving a positive warning upon actuation of said control means When said stylus control is in reproducing position.

6. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, a stylus control having recording, neutral and reproducing positions, control means for controlling the rotation of said record support, and signal means for giving a positive Warning upon actuation of said control means When said stylus control is in neutral position.

'7. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, means for controlling the rotation of said record support, a stylus having alternative positions, a stylus control, and signal means for giving a positive Warning upon actuation of said rotation controlling means when said stylus control is set to hold said stylus in certain of said alternative positions.

8. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, means for controlling the rotation of said record support, a stylus having alternative positions, a stylus control having a recording position, and signal means for giving a positive Warning upon actuation of said rotation controlling means when said stylus control is in other than recording position.

9. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, means for controlling the rotation of said record support, a stylus having alternative positions, a stylus control having a reproducing position, and signal means for giving a positive warning upon actuation of said rotation controlling means when said stylus control is in reproducing position.

10. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, means for controlling the rotation of said record support, a stylus having alternative positions, a stylus control having a neutral position, and signal means ior giving a rpositive, warning upon actuation of said rotation controlling means When said stylus control is in neutral position.

11. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, control means for controlling the rotation of said record support, a stylus control having recording and non-recording positions, and signal means operatively associated with said control means and said stylus control for giving a. positive Warning signal upon actuation of the control means with the stylus control in non-recording position.

12. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, a Bowden wire for controlling the rotation of said record support, a stylus control having alternative positions, signal means, and means for causing said signal means to give a Warning signal upon .actuation of the Bowden Wire When the stylus control is in certain of said alternative positions.

13. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, a Bowden wire for controlling the rotation of said record support, a stylus control having recording .and non-recording positions, signal means, and means for causing said signal means to give a Warning signal upon actuation of the Bowden Wire When the stylus control is in non-recording position.

14. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, means comprising a clutch for driving said record support, means for controlling the driving oi said record support by said driving means, signal means, and means associated With said controlling means for causing said signal means to give a positive warning signal as an incident to the actuation of said controlling means and independently of the operation of said clutch.

15. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, driving means for said record support, signal means, control means, means associated with said control means for causing said signal means to give a Warning upon initial actuation of the control means, and other means associated with said control means to cause the driving means to rotate the record support upon a further actuation of said control means.

16. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, driving means for said record support, signal means, control means, means associated with said control means for causing said signal means to give a warning upon initial actuation of the control means, other means associated with said control means to cause the driving means to rotate the record support upon a further actuation of said con-trol means, and means for rendering said Warning causing means ineffective to cause said signal means to give a Warning.

1'7. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, driving means .for said support, a Bowden-wire for controlling the operation of said driving means, a bell, a striker suitably mounted to ring said bell, and means responsive to movement of said Bowden-wire for actuating said striker.

18. The combination in a dictating machine of a record support, driving means for said support, a Bowden-Wire for controlling the operation of said driving means, a bell, a striker suitably mounted to ring said bell, means responsive to movement of said Bowden-Wire for actuating said striker, stylus control means, and means responsive to movement of said stylus control means to a predetermined position for preventing actuation of said striker.

19. In a machine operable to record or reproduce dictation, in combination, means for starting the machine, mechanism for recording and reproducing dictation having recording, neutral and reproducing positions, a Warning device adapted -to be activated to draw attention to the condition of said mechanism as to position, and means responsive to actuation of said means for starting the machine for causing activation of said warning device ii said mechanism is in reproducing position.

20. In a machine operable to record or reproduce dictation, in combination, means for starting the machine, mechanism for recording and reproducing dictation having recording, neutral and reproducing positions, a Warning device adapted to be activated to draw attention to the condition of said mechanism as to position, and means responsive to actuation or" said means for starting the machine f or causing activation of said Warning device if said mechanism is in neutral position.

21. In a dictating machine, in combination, a rotatable record-support, a record-support startand-stop control, a sound-box having elements movable to selected positions, a warning device, and means for rendering said Warning device effective upon actuation of said start-and-stop control but before the latter becomes effective to cause rotation of said record-support when said sound-box elements occupy other than a certain selected position.

MANFRED J. JOHNSON. VICTOR L. FRYKMAN. 

